Allan Elmer Carstairs

Allan Elmer Carstairs, age 89, of Barrhead, AB, passed peacefully November 3, 2026, at the Dr. W.R. Keir Barrhead Continuing Care Centre. The firstborn child of Eda and Harry Carstairs, Allan was born March 2, 1937, in the Barrhead Hospital.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Eda Boake (nee Munroe), father, Harry Carstairs, and sister, Dorene Peterson.

As the eldest child, Allan very much enjoyed tormenting his 2 little sisters in true big brotherly fashion! He was blessed throughout his childhood to live next door to his maternal grandmother who provided him with much love, kindness, and support. As a young boy, he enjoyed his local paper route and in his early teens he welcomed the opportunity to work on a farm in the Roselea area each summer. Allan enjoyed scuba diving at Clear Lake as a young man, and he also had a passion for small planes and airshow exhibitions. He discovered a love for square dancing and took great care to learn the finer points of this skill, taking great pride and satisfaction in performing for others. Photography was an interest he pursued later in life, taking many photographs of Barrhead and the surrounding areas, demonstrating a keen eye for composition resulting in some truly remarkable shots.

Allan hit the ground running and left home at a young age to try his hand at many ventures to include hauling gravel “up north” to lumber hauling with a team of horses before settling into a permanent position at the Barrhead Tire Shop. During a brief hiatus from Barrhead, Allan earned his Orderly Certification while living in Edmonton followed by a brief orderly position at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Upon returning to Barrhead he was employed at the Barrhead Hospital as an orderly and scrub/perioperative nurse for many years. During these years, he also worked part-time at Stephani Motors, eventually changing his career path to work full-time in Shipping and Receiving for Stephani Motors. Although officially retired in 2005/2006, Allan continued to provide his services to the company and particularly enjoyed assisting in dealer vehicle transfers.

Allan is survived by his daughter, Valerie Gilkerson of Warrenton, VA; his sister Faye Martin of Spruce Grove, AB; four grandchildren, Amber Johnson of WV, Jesse Mochoruk (Ashley) of VA, Caroline Johnson of VA, and Nichol Johnson of VA; seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

A service for Allan will be held Nov 12, 2026, beginning with a viewing at 9:30 Memorial Service 10:00 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Barrhead, Alberta and Interment to follow